I’ve written about the chandelier in our dining room a couple times. Whether I was trying to get my point across to have the chandelier hung, or to recovering existing lampshades, it’s not without surprise that my tastes have evolved since all these lighting shenanigans have occurred. Although it’s only been around 3 years since I’ve changed the look of the lampshades, I have grown tired and apparently the fabric has too. The edges are starting to curl, and the overall design is looking a little tired. Meh. Age.
So, knowing me, I went into geek mode and over-analyzed said lampshades to the point of nauseam. The chandelier is an 8-arm, and my careful study determined that the shades were too small for the scale of the fixture. And the fabric was too busy, maybe even a little too trendy. And. And. And….
I turned to online shops and gasped at the cost of chandelier shades. Good Lord. If I pulled the trigger on the shades I fell in love with, I would be out close to $300, which is more than I paid for the chandelier itself. Goodness, what gives?! They weren’t even made with fine fabric. I’d have to wait and keep an eye out. Story of my life.
And then I stumbled upon these. Chandelier shades made of silk-like fabric (most likely polyester), that are on the larger side of size, and exactly the shape and scope I had in mind. On a rushed mission to pick up wooden skewers at Christmas Tree Shop, these shades stopped me in my tracks in aisle 3. Coming in at $5.99 a piece, they were a no-brainer.
To dress them up and to add a semi DIY tinge, I hot glued a black cording that I picked up at Joann Fabric, to the top and bottom hems. Easy peasy.
Here is my advice when shopping for lampshades: train your eye. I say this on all design and decor dilemmas. Appreciate the finer things, and train your eye to find a more budget friendly score that looks just as worthy as the higher priced item. You’ll always have to exercise your patience, but the search is satisfying and gratifying when you find just what you’re looking for, in the budget you’re willing to spend. Only settle for less when it doesn’t look like you’re settling.
Only when you touch these lampshades can you tell that they aren’t silk. That is exactly what I was after, along with the low cost. I think they’re perfect for this chandelier, and truly dress up our dining room.
Linda Marin Lant says
What a great idea! Now to stay focused and only buy replacement shades!
Kathleen says
For those who like to “thrift” … I have found similar shades in glass, as well as a white and grey “marble look” glass, in quantities of four to six! I have replaced the shades in two of our chandeliers with these styles, at an extremely low-budget cost! Love this project, and highly recommend frequently checking your local thrift shops. They often have some real treasures to use as is, or embellish, as you’ve done here.